Discover the Living Word
Are you longing to hear from God? To go deeper than surface-level faith and experience the life-transforming power of His Word? The Bible is not just a book. It’s the living, breathing voice of God, inviting you into relationship, renewal, and purpose.
Whether you’re new to Scripture or have walked with Christ for years, this page is your gateway to a deeper, richer understanding of the Bible. Here, you’ll find tools to help you read with clarity, study with purpose, and apply God’s truth to your everyday life.
This isn’t about checking off boxes. It’s about awakening your heart to the beauty of who God is and the story He’s written for your redemption. Let this be the place where knowledge meets transformation, where information becomes intimacy with the One who speaks through every page.
You were never meant to read the Bible alone. Let’s walk this path together, reading, studying, and growing in Christ.
Start where you are. Open the Word. Expect Him to speak through the pages of Scripture.
Where to Begin if You’ve Never Read the Bible: Start with the Gospel of Mark
If you’ve never read the Bible before, let me say how thrilled I am that you’re even asking this question. You are standing at the threshold of the greatest adventure of your life. Let’s start at the beginning, with a few big-picture truths that will help make sense of where to begin.
What the Bible Is
The Bible is not just one book but a collection of 66 books, written by different people over about 1,500 years. That alone makes its unity and harmony remarkable. These books include history, poetry, prophecy, and letters. Together, they tell the story of God’s plan for humanity.
The Bible is divided into two parts:
- The Old Testament (39 books): Written before Jesus came, it points forward to his arrival.
- The New Testament (27 books): Written after Jesus came, it records who he is, what he did, and how we are to live in light of his work.
At the center of the Bible is Jesus Christ. If you get to know him, the rest of Scripture begins to come into focus.
Where to Start
Since Jesus is the heart of the Bible, the best place to begin is with the accounts of his life and ministry. These are called the Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. “Gospel” means “good news,” and these four books are the foundation of the Christian faith.
I recommend beginning with the Gospel of Mark. It’s the shortest of the four (just sixteen chapters), and it moves quickly from one event to the next. One of Mark’s favorite words is “immediately,” and you’ll feel the urgency of Jesus’ mission.
Here’s what to do: set aside an hour or two, maybe on a Sunday morning or a quiet evening, and read all of Mark in one sitting. Even if you’re a slower reader, you can finish it in two hours. This will give you a sweeping view of who Jesus is and what he did.
Next, read the Gospel of John. It’s longer (twenty-one chapters) and more reflective. While Mark emphasizes action, John takes you deeper into Jesus’ teaching, his heart, and his identity as the Son of God. Together, Mark and John will give you both the deeds and the words of Christ.
What to Read Next
After Mark and John, you have two great options:
- If you like to see the big picture, read Romans. It organizes the message of the gospel into a clear, beautiful whole.
- If you prefer fast-paced history, read Acts. This book shows how the good news of Jesus spread from Jerusalem to Rome in just thirty years, and how the church was born.
Don’t Miss the Psalms
In the very middle of the Bible, you’ll find the Book of Psalms — 150 songs and prayers of God’s people. They express the whole range of human emotion: joy, sorrow, doubt, gratitude, fear, and hope. Many new believers find deep comfort here.
Final Encouragement
Wherever you begin, let yourself be amazed. Every page of Scripture is God’s Word: true, reliable, and given to help you know Christ, find salvation, and learn how to live a life pleasing to God.
So open your Bible. Start with Mark. And step into the greatest journey you will ever take.
Debbie Swindell 